President John F. Kennedy denounces Soviet arrest of U.S. professor in what would turn out to be his 64th and last press conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 14 1963)

1960s, Cold War, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 64th News Conference, November 14, 1963'

(Thursday, November 14, 1963, 11:00-11:30 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy asserted forcefully today that Yale Prof. Frederick C. Barghoorn was “innocent of any intelligence mission” in the Soviet Union and demanded his prompt release.


Video: 'November 14, 1963 - Clip from President John F. Kennedy's last News Conference'

Kennedy warned the Soviet Union that Barghoorn’s arrest could have “a most serious effect” on future U.S.-Russian cultural relations.


Video: 'JFK PRESS CONFERENCE #64 (NOVEMBER 14, 1963) (HIS LAST CONFERENCE)'

Flatly denying that Barghoorn, a distinguished political scientist, was spying, the United States had abruptly canceled negotiations with Moscow for a new cultural exchange agreement.


Video: '"THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT"'

“Prof. Bargoorn was not on an intelligence mission of any kind,” the President emphasized. The United States, the chief executive asserted, is deeply concerned not only at the arrest of Barghoorn, but at the fact that U.S. officials were kept in ignorance for days about the fact of his seizure.

Barghoorn would be released after being held for 16 days; this would turn out to be Kennedy’s final news conference.